CHAMPAIGN - There is Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us and even Wigs "R" Us.

But through a rather amazing run the last couple seasons, the University of Illinois basketball program might want to coin the term, "Winning 'R' Us."

At least that's how senior point guard Dee Brown sees it, and he's counting on that epithet to help steer his team past Michigan State tonight as the Illini try to take a significant first step toward the school's fourth Big Ten Conference championship in the last five seasons.

"Winning is us," Brown said earlier this week as Illinois prepared to take on the Spartans in a matchup of Final Four teams from last season. "That's what we do at Illinois. We win."

Brown isn't the only one counting on Illinois' winning habits to help carry the team once again. Its coach, Bruce Weber, has seen the Illini win 53 of their last 54 regular-season games, a trend built on practice habits and the ability to make plays in tight games.

"A big part of it is Dee's leadership and James' leadership," Weber said, referring to his two seniors, including James Augustine. "They've helped pass along the winning habits to this group of players."

Those habits have helped Illinois win 29 straight games at the Assembly Hall and have helped make Illinois the second winningest team in college basketball over the last five-and-a-half seasons (155 victories to Duke's 163).

Tonight, however, Illinois runs into another program built on winning. Over the past seven seasons, coach Tom Izzo has led Michigan State to four Final Fours, including the 2000 national championship. And since the 1997-98 season, either Michigan State or Illinois has won or shared the Big Ten title seven of those eight years.

With both teams ranked in the Top 10 this season, it makes tonight's game a heavyweight bout in every sense of the word.

Michigan State has won 11 straight since a triple-overtime loss to Gonzaga in November and has three of the Big Ten's top six scorers in Maurice Ager (22.0 ppg), Paul Davis (19.9) and Shannon Brown (17.6).

As usual, Weber said Illinois' ability to defend will be critical, especially when it comes to slowing the Spartans' relentless fast break.

"They are one of the best fast-breaking teams in the country," Weber said. "The No. 1 thing is that you have to stop the break. If you get a bucket and you celebrate, they're getting a layup at the other end. If you can limit that and get them playing in the half court, that gives you a chance to compete."

A year ago, Illinois' offense was so efficient that it dared to run with the Spartans and administered an 81-68 whipping in East Lansing, Mich. That won't happen tonight, Weber predicted.

"Last year we could just outscore them," he said. "I don't think we can do that, especially at this point in the season. I'd say we have to limit their possessions.

"About 10 or 12 years ago at Purdue, we put in a special defense just for Michigan State, just to try and slow them down. And we've continued to use that and hopefully it can work to our advantage."

Michigan State has been dominated by the Illini the last three meetings, something Weber is certain Izzo will use to motivate his team.

"I don't think there's any doubt," Weber said. "I hope they come in cocky and think they're going to win. I'd love that. But I don't think that's going to happen. I think they'll play at a high level with a little bit of a fear factor. I would expect a grind-it-out game."

If that's the case, the outcome could be decided at the very end, and that's why Illinois has spent an inordinate amount of practice time this week working on last-second shots, inbounds plays and ways to generate offense when the shot clock is melting away.

"You always wonder if you can make plays at the end," Weber said.

Illinois' recent success, especially at home, indicates they usually find a way.

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.